The Casino Club...

On a recent trip to the John Hancock building to view a property I noticed an interesting building on the northeast corner of the block that the Hancock sits. A one story brick building painted green-black, with numerous windows and a doorman in suite & tie. The building appeared to have many untold stories within its walls. The doorman at the Hancock new little more than it was the "Casino Club" a top-secret social club for the city's movers and shakers. My curiousity was peaked: What is the story behind "the club" and how did it side-step the development and construction of the towering Hancock Center in 1969.

This was all I was able to find...

"There was originally supposed to be two skyscrapers here, which is why it is called John Hancock Center. The second tower would gave been East of the first, but the developers could not wrest the land at 195 East Delaware Place away from the very private Casino Club. The developers sent a letter about the second tower to then-club president Doris Winterbotham. She ignored the letter and the development went forward with only one tower. The letter in question was found in Winterbotham's papers after she died, and was later publicized by the Chicago Tribune. Chicago could have had its own version of the World Trade Center.

An interesting side story on the Chicago Club - Chicago's most powerful social networking club. The club is ranked the 8th most "connected" social club/think tank in the nation.

I am going to do some additional research thru the Encyclopedia of Chicago.

Chicago's Favorite Son

The day after... and the now the work begins. What a wonderful three days the nation has had embracing change, the 44th president and touching and living history. I am glad to see the press retire the moniker "president-elect" as it felt the nation had elected and appointed Obama President in early November if not sooner. Between the presidency and the Martin Luther King holiday various emotions stir personally for me; reflections of my visit to the Nobel Peace Prize Museum in Stockholm and listening to the speeches of Martin Luther King and purchasing a small post card of Dr. King as a small keepsake; something that I hold and cherish to this day or thoughts of my father's African-American roommate iat Michigan State in the mid 60s; whom my fallen father spoke with such respect and admiration for their friendship.

Chicago's other favorite son is local artist Ray Noland; an artist from Pilsen who has found success by sharing his talents with the campaign and nation. I am a huge fan of Ray's work. His artistic expressions, street art and posters became famous worldwide. Between Ray and Shepard Fairey, the Obama campaign had its brand plastered all over the Internet and street. Ray's work is shown in the photos above in graffiti format in the Loop. I personally purchased the poster of Obama spinning a basketball and law book on each index finger. While my favorite poster, "Coast to Coast" which (a signed and limited edition print) is selling on E-bay for more than $500. Ray symbolized what the campaign was about, local flavor, grassroots efforts, individual expression and creativity; and representing the Chicago artists community of Pilsen. Thank you Ray! See more of Ray's work at http://www.gotellmama.org/

Classic Chicago Photo Collage

Obama Graffiti

On the eve of the eve of the historic inauguration of the 44th president I have sited a few local graffiti artists work honoring the hometown favorite - this one appears on Halsted, just north of Fullerton and Lincoln (west side of the street). The buzz around town includes those curious (myself included) and attempting to drive by his personal residence (5046 S. Greenwood) in Hyde Park to the commemorative edition of the local restaurant review TV show, Check Please, featuring the President-elect (as a young senator) and giving props to the south side restaurant Dixie Kitchen (5225 S. Harper Ave.) - a favorite of mine for the fried green tomatoes and mini corn cakes appetizers. Chicago Timeout this week stole my idea of creating a Chicago Bulls jersey with the "44" and Obama on the back...look for these jerseys for sale this week in D.C. and coming weeks outside the United Center.